Railroad-track construction.



PATENTBD SEPT. 17,y 1907.

w. E. HUGHES. RAILROAD TRACK coNsTRUGTIoN.

PPLIUATIO FILED PEB. 26| 1907.

Nwk m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAILROAD-TRACK CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

Application filed February 26, 1907. Serial No. 359,344..

To all -whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. HUGHES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mineral Ridge, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Track Constructions, of which `the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in railroad track constructions, and consists primarily in a metallic foundation for the rails.

The main object of the present invention resides in the production of longitudinal sleepers connected at suitable intervals by cross ties, forming a metallic base designed to be embedded in the road-bed ballast and firmly support the rails, the construction including a means for adjustably connecting the rails to the longi tudinal sleepers to permit necessary gage adjustment of the rails without interfering with the metallic foundation. i

The invention will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure l is a view in plan showing a portion of the metallic foundation for the rails, the rails being shown in position thereon, Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. l, Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. l, Fig. 4 is a perspective detail of the angle plates for securing the sleepers and ties together, Fig. 5 is a perspective of the base plates for connecting the sleepers and ties at their juncture with each other, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rail securing plate for adjustably securing the rails to the sleepers.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the present invention, my improved foundation comprises yessentially sleepers l and cross ties 2, the sleepers being sleepers are also of greater transverse extent than the outeredges of the sleepers when in proper position.,

The sleepers and ties are secured in connected position by angle plates 7, of approximately angular formation, one section of which is designed to bear against the web of the cross tie between the head flanges thereof, and the other section arranged to bear against the adjacent web portion of the sleeper. Each sleeper is connected to the adjacent tie by two such angle plates, arranged on opposite sides of the sleeper web and secured to the web portions of the tie. The angle plates are to be seciued to the respective webs of the sleepers and ties by p sleepers, and are provided adjacent each end with side fianges l0 designed when the plates are in place to be bent upward to overlie the side edges of the lower head flanges of the sleeper. In alinernent with the cross ties the plates 9 are provided with laterally projecting sections Il, designed to bear beneath the cross ties, and formed with side flanges 12 to embrace the edges of the iianges 6 of the ties. By the use of the bed plate 9, which is to be of such length as to extend some distance on each side of the respective cross ties, the juncture between the ties and sleepers is further supported and disconnection of these parts under the Weight of strains is effectively prevented.

The rails 13 are secured to the sleepers l through the medium of securing plates 14, illustrated more particularly in Fig. 6. These plates comprise body portions 15 to underlie the base flanges of the rails, and tongues 16 and 17 projecting centrally from the opposing side edges ofthe body portion. The tongues are of materially less width than the width of the body portion and are each formed with longitudinallykarranged slots 18, as shown. The side edge of the body portion at each side of the tongues 17 is formed with upturned lips 19 designed to engage the base flange of the rail. i

The rails are secured in applied position on the sleepers through the medium of plates 14, said plates underlying the rails with the tongues I9 engaging the base flange on one side thereof. The plates are secured to the head flange 4 of the sleeper through the medium of bolts 20 passed through said flange on opposite sides of the rail and entering the slots I8 in the securing plate. Through the medium of the slots it is obvious that the rails may be adjusted to any desired gage, as said plates are movable transversely of the sleepers to permit such adjustment of the rails. The plates I4 are preferably arranged in alternate order, that is the lips 19 of one plate will engage the base flange of the rail on one side oi the web, While the succeeding plate Will engage the base flange of the railon the opposite 'side of the Web, thereby preventing lateral movement of the rail in either direction after application ofthe securing plates.

It will be particularly noted that With the sleepers and ties embedded in the road-bed any spreading or independent movement of said sleepers and ties is absolutely prevented. Furthermore, the juncture o the sleepers and ties is secured to an underlying bed-plate by which separation at their juncture is absolutely prevented.

It is to be understood that the sleepers are to be oi the particular length found necessary for the specic purposes oi the railroad under construction, as in light travel fewer cross ties are necessary than in heavy travel. The construction provides a solid rail foundation of all metallic parts7 thereby materially facilitating the proper maintenance of the road-bed and preventing any yielding o the rail through lack of proper support.

The spacing of the securing plates provides for unsupported intervals o the rail proper, whereby a certain degree of resiliency is permitted the rail and the rigid connection heretofore objectionable in metallic foundations is entirely avoided.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

l. A railroad foundation comprising sleepers, means for securing the tracks thereto, cross tires connecting the ends of the sleepers, means for reinforingA the connection btWeen said ties and sleepers, and bed-plates underlying the juncture of the' ties and sleepers.

2. A railroad foundation comprising longitudinally arranged sleepers, cross ties disposed intermediate the ends of the sleepers, means for connecting said ties to the' respective sleepers, bed-plates underlying the juncture of the ties and sleepers, and rail securing plates secured to the sleepers.

3. A railroad foundation comprising longitudinally arranged sleepers, cross ties disposed intermediate the ends of the sleepers, means for connecting said ties to the respective sleepers, bed-plates underlying the juncture of the ties and sleepers, and rail securing plates adjustably secured to the sleepers.

4. A railroad foundation comprising sleepers, ties arranged transverse tlle ends of the sleepers, angle plates connecting the proximate surfaces ofitlie sleepers and ties, bed-plates underlying the juncture of the sleepers and ties, means for securing said bed-plates to the respective sleepers and ties, and rail securing plates adjustably mounted on the sleepers.

5. A railroad foundation comprising sleepers, ties arranged transverse the ends of the sleepers,'angle plates connecting the proximate surfaces of the sleepers and ties, bed-plates underlying the juncture of the sleepers and ties, means for securing said bed-plates to the respective sleepers and ties, and rail securing plates adjustably mounted on the sleepers, said rail securing plates being formed with upturned lips to engage the base flanges of the rails.

In testimony whereof, I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. HUGHES.

Witnesses Jol-IN L. Postr, FRANK R. Cownnn. 

